Encore Wealth Management

Working in Retirement: New trend or same old story?

Where Will Your Retirement Money Come From? Retirement income may come from a variety of sources. Here's an overview of the six main sources.

🎨 Some of the art world's most extraordinary paintings are about to return to the public eye after nearly half a century.
On November 18, Sotheby's will auction 12 Impressionist and post-Impressionist artworks in New York. The collection, assembled by Argentine collectors Nelly Arrieta de Blaquier and Carlos Pedro Blaquier, is valued at approximately $450 million.
Among the highlights:
🌳 Vincent van Gogh's Chestnut Trees in Flower: Estimated at $180 million, the landscape was painted in 1890, shortly after the artist left a psychiatric asylum.
🖼️ Paul Cézanne's Arlequin: Estimated at $120 million, the portrait depicts the artist's son dressed as a harlequin.
🖌️ Works by Monet, Renoir, Degas, and Pissarro: The collection also includes Parisian cityscapes, a horse-racing scene, and a boating scene.
The collection has been largely unseen for about half a century, making this a rare look at works that have spent decades in private hands.
With Sotheby's anticipating international interest, the November auction could also set new records for the artists.
Which of these masterpieces catches your eye? ✨

Works by van Gogh and Cézanne up for sale in Sotheby's $450 million auction A dozen Impressionist and post-Impressionist artworks valued at almost half a billion dollars are going up for auction.

🌠 October is bringing a little celestial entertainment! The annual Draconid meteor shower is expected to peak on the night of October 8–9, with excellent viewing conditions thanks to an almost moonless sky.
Unlike many meteor showers that are best viewed in the early morning hours, the Draconids are an evening event. This year's peak is expected around 9 PM EDT on October 8, so there's no need to stay up until dawn. 🌌
Here's how to make the most of it:
🔭 Find a dark spot. Head somewhere away from city lights with a clear view of the sky.
✨ Give your eyes time to adjust. Allow about 30 minutes to get used to the darkness.
🌙 Leave the equipment at home. You won't need a telescope or binoculars. Just look up and take in as much of the sky as possible.
The Draconids typically produce around five meteors per hour under ideal conditions, although they've surprised skywatchers with spectacular displays in the past.
The shower runs from October 6–10, so you may have several opportunities to catch a shooting star, weather permitting.
Will you be watching? 🌠

Draconid meteor shower 2026 — When, where and how to see it Good news! The Draconid meteor shower peaks under almost moonless skies on Oct. 8-9.

Lifestyle inflation can be the enemy of wealth building.

Keeping Up with the Joneses Lifestyle inflation can be the enemy of wealth building. What could happen if you invested instead of buying more stuff?

Do you know the ins and outs of charitable giving? It's more complicated than you may think. Learn more now.

Year-End Charitable Gifting and You This article may help you maximize the benefits of your donation for your chosen charity.

Committed to increasing your financial literacy? Don't be afraid to ask questions.

The Financial Literacy Crisis Many Americans are operating their personal finances with only the barest minimum of knowledge.

📌 Higher rates sting borrowers, but they can be a real win for savers.

As rates rise, banks may increase the yields they offer on savings products to attract deposits. The average U.S. savings account still pays just 0.64% annual percentage yield. Some high-yield accounts are paying more than six times that, up to 4.2%, for the exact same deposit.

🔎 Certificates of deposit, or CDs, can offer even higher rates, but the tradeoff is access: your money is locked in for a set term, and pulling it out early usually costs a penalty.

Higher yields don’t erase the effects of inflation, and they won’t necessarily transform household finances. But if your savings account is still earning close to that 0.64% average, that gap alone might be worth a second look.

What are the financial benefits of higher interest rates? Experts explain The Federal Reserve recently raised interest rates for the first time since 2023.

A few strategies that may help you maximize your Social Security income.

Just a moment...

🌴 More Americans are deciding that enjoying life now matters just as much as making financial progress for later.

A recent SoFi survey found that 72% of Americans would be willing to make slower progress toward their financial goals so they can spend more time with family, travel more, and prioritize meaningful experiences.

That doesn’t necessarily mean abandoning long-term goals. In fact, 59% of respondents said enjoying life is how they define financial progress, compared with 27% who pointed to owning a home.

The challenge is finding a balance between what matters now and what matters later. ✈️ That can mean making room for a vacation, concert, or family event while still keeping an eye on retirement savings and debt.

But charge that trip to a credit card and carry a balance, and interest can turn a two-week memory into a much longer bill.

What does financial progress look like to you: reaching the next milestone, enjoying more of life now, or some mix of both?

72% of Americans would slow financial progress to enjoy life now, SoFi survey finds SoFi found 72% of Americans are willing to make slower progress on financial goals to prioritize family, travel and meaningful experiences.